Branding device for kegs



May 29, 1934- E. F. ENGSTROM 1,960,870

BRANDING DEVICE FOR KEGS Filed Sept. 6, 1955 17u/#211151 rnsf F 239350172 Patented May 29, 1934 Y YUNITED STAT-ES PAT-ENT OFI-'ICL BRANDING DEVICE FOR KEGS Ernst F. Engstrom, Maywood, Ill., Vassignor to Everhot Manufacturing Company, Maywood, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September 6, 1933, Serial No. 688,315

5 Claims. (Cl. 10i-7) requirements of the Federal Bureau of Industrial Alcohol.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device adapted for branding all sizes of wooden kegs or barrels on any part of the staves. Another object ofthe invention is the provision of a branding device of the kind described which is adjustable for any length or diameter of kegs and to conform to any angle of inclination of the staves.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the kind described which is simple, durable, easily assembled and operated, and satisfactory for its intended purpose.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

`To this end, my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of lparts herein shown and described and more partieularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing, wherein like referencev characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the `principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View along a vertical plane coincident with the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through a burner forming a portion of the device;

Fig.. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 of Fig; 3; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view along a vertical plane determined by the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly tothe drawing,.the numeral 10 generally designates a frameworkV providing a support and a runway for a keg 11 inoperative position for branding.

The framework 10 comprises a pair of longitudinally extending angle members 12 fixedly held in spaced apart relation by a pair of transverse channel members 13, positioned one at each end of the members 12 and fastened thereto in any suitable manner such as by welding, rivets', bolts or the like. Each member 13 provides a support for a pair of channel members 14 positioned on top of the members 13 iii-parallel spaced apart relation with their anges projecting inwardly. The'I-lower flanges of the members 14 are fastened tof the top flanges of the members 13, preferably by riveting or welding. A plurality of plates 15, one at each end of the angle members V412, Vare fastened at their lower edges to the angle meinbers by welding and with their inner vertical edges similarly fastened to the adjacent mem'- bers `13 and 14. The plates 15 provide rigidity and stiffen the members 13 and '14 against tene dency to overturn resulting from operation of the branding device.

A longitudinal runway, adjustable t'o` kegs" of 65 down between the top anges of the members A14. 'o 3 as best shown in Fig. 5. The lower end of each bolt 17 is threaded into a nut 18` of a size that prevents its rotation, when the bolt is threaded in er out, and provides a clearance with the vwebs of the channel members '14 permitting the nut n and bolt to be shifted longitudinally of the meinbers when the nut is loosened. The bolts 17`are shiftable to permit the spacing between the a'nglc members 16 to be adjusted to kegs of different sizes and are adapted to securely fasten the members in adjusted spaced apart position. Members 19, fastened to the verticallegs' of the angle members 16 by bolts 20, provide supports forY the adjacent ends of the kegsv l1. The members 19 are` preferably constructed of wood, sin'ce it is' found' in practice that the keg 11 will roll thereon with` out slipping, when thekeg is movedv during the branding operation as hereinafter more particue larly described. The vertical legs of the angle" members 16 preferably project above the mein'` bers 19 and thereby serve as guides preventing longitudinal movement of the keg 11 as it is rolled on the runway with the result that the characters branded on the keg are in uniform alignment as would not be the c'ase if longitudinal movement of the kegwere permitted after starting the branding operation.

The keg'll is branded by contact therewith of a plate 21' having a plurality ofY raised charac? ters 22 formedv thereon in proper sequenceto spell out the word or words to be formed' on the keg. The plate 21 is shown in Figs. 1', 3 and 4 as mounted on the lower side of an elongated hollow gas burner 23, the yends of which are closed by plates 24. The plate 21 is removably 10 fastened to the bottom of theA burner 23 by screwsl 25 and is held in spaced apart relationV to' the: burner by lugs 26 projecting from the bottom4 of the burner. The bottom wall of the burner provides a plurality of spaced apart apertures 27? through which gas cr a mixture of gas and air ilows and is burned as rapidly as it escapes, the combustion occurring in close contact with the plate 21 and thereby maintaining the characters 22 at a temperature suchv that corresponding charred grooves of substantial depth are formed in the staves of the keg which cannot be efaced except by a removal of a substantial layer of thickness of the staves. The openings between the lugs 26 permits access of air into the space between the plate 21 and the bottom wall of the burner 23 in suflicient quantities for efficient combustion. Gas or a mixture of gas and air is delivered into the burner 23 through a tube 28 from a source of supply not shown.

The burner 23 is carried by a manually actuated slidably mounted bar 29 having a handle 30 adapted for manipulation to bring the heated branding plate 21 into operative engagement with the keg 11 and by longitudinal movementl of the bar to cause the keg to roll on the runway and successively bring the hot characters 22 into contact .with the keg in desired sequence to char the wooden staves vand form a permanent brand on the keg. Y Y

The burner 23 is xedly fastened to the bar 29 by clamp members 31 and the end portion of the bar opposite to the handle `30 is slidable in a close ttingguide member 32, pivotally mounted on a casting 33 carried by a pair of upright rods or standards 34. The lower ends of the rods 34 are xedly fastened to the framework 10 by any suitable means such as a casting, not shown.

YThe elevation of the casting 33 is adjustable for 'kegs of different diameters by means of set screws 34 adapted to clamp the casting to the rods 34. A member 35 mounted on the bar 29 at the end opposite to the handle 30 provides a counter b alance tending to maintain the burner 23 and plate 40 21 out of operative engagement with the keg 11 when the burner and keg have been moved into close proximity to the rods `or standards 34 at the completion of the branding operation. The resulting elevated position of the burner 23 permits the branded keg to be removed without interference by another keg placed on the runway for the next operation.

It is found desirable that a substantial portion of the circumference of the keg be branded in order that the brand may be seen under all conditions of storage or arrangement of the kegs. A branding plate 21 of a length of eighteen inches is Vfound satisfactoryas providing sufcient characters of suitable size to form a legible brand of Ordinary typical nomenclature. In meeting the Federal bureau requirements that -at least sixty percent of the keg circumference be branded, it is Yfound necessary to apply the brand three times in succession on standard full size kegs and to apply it twice on kegs of smaller sizes.

The desired repetition of the brands is obtained by placing the keg 11 on the end of the runway furthest from the rods 34 and placing `the branding plate 2l with the character 22, most remote from the operator, in tangential contact with the keg. The operator then pushes the bar 29 away from him, meanwhile exerting pressure of the plate 21 on the keg if necessary and one brand is complete by moving the bar and burner approximately eighteen inches or a slightly greater distance. The next brand on the same keg is accomplished by lifting the. biuner 23 and moving it towards vthe operator until the character 22 most remote from the operator will again be in tangential contact with the keg when` the burner is lowered and the keg advanced by rolling as before.

The lateral inclination of the plate 21 is adjustable between limits in excess of the inclination of the staves of the keg thereby adapting the device for circumferential branding of any portion of the staves intermediate their extremities. For this purpose, I have provided the lower portions of the clamp members 31 with slotted lateral projections 36, the lower faces of which are curved and inclined outwardly and upwardly as shown in Fig. 4. Corresponding projections 37 on the burner 23 provide a mounting for bolts 38 positioned in the slotted projections 36. The described cooperating projections 36 and 37 are fastened by bolts to provide a rocker mounting adapting the burner 23 and plate 21 to be given any desired lateral inclination in accordance with the slope of the staves at peripheral circumferences selected for branding.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided a novel and improved keg branding device of the kind described, which is adjustable for repeated brandings of kegs of different sizes at any selected circumferential peripheral area.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the scope thereof; hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myseli to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the kind described, a pair of spaced apart longitudinal members comprising a runway over which a keg is adapted to be evenly and uniformly advanced byV rolling, apparatus operable for movement in tangential contact with a keg positioned on said runway whereby said keg is rolled along the runway and circumferentially aligned characters are impressed on the keg, said apparatus comprising a bar positioned above and longitudinally movable relative to said runway, a standard, a guide member mounted on the standard providing a support in which said bar is slidable longitudinally and adapted to be oscillated in a vertical plane, a plate mounted on said bar with its lower face adapted for tangential contact with said keg, a plurality of projections on the lower face of the plate, means for heating said projections, and means adapted to permit movement of said bar longitudinally with the plate in tangential contact with the keg.

2. In a device of the kind described, a pair of spaced apart longitudinal members comprising a runway over which a keg is adapted to be evenly and uniformly advanced by rolling, means adapted to vary the transverse spacing between said longitudinal members, apparatus operable for movement in tangential contact with a keg? Dositioned on said runway whereby said keg is rolled along the runway and circumferentially aligned characters are impressed on the keg, said apparatus comprising a bar positioned above and longitudinally movable relative to said runway, a standard, a guide member mounted on the standard providing a support on which said bar is slidable longitudinally and adapted to be oscillated in a vertical plane, a plate mounted on said bar with its lower face adapted for tangential contact with said keg, a plurality of projections on the lower face of the plate, means for heating said projections, and means adapted to permit movement of said bar longitudinally with the plate in tangential contact with the keg.

3. In a device of the kind described, a pair of spaced apart longitudinal members comprising a runway over which a keg is adapted to be evenly and uniformly advanced by rolling, apparatus operable for movement in tangential Contact with a keg positioned on said runway whereby said keg is rolled along the runway and circumferentially aligned characters are impressed on the keg, said apparatus comprising a bar positioned above and longitudinally movable relative to said runway, a standard, a guide member mounted on the standard providing a support on which said bar is slidable longitudinally and adapted to be osoillated in a vertical plane, means operable to shift the relative lateral position of said runway and standard and to vary the spacing between the longitudinal members comprising the runway, a plate mounted on said bar with its lower face adapted for tangential contact with said keg, a plurality of projections on the lower face of the plate, means for heating said projections, and means adapted to permit movement of said bar longitudinally with the plate in tangential contact with the keg.

4. In a device of the kind described, a pair of spaced apart longitudinal members comprising a runway over which a keg is adapted to be evenly and uniformly advanced by rolling, apparatus operable for movement in tangential contact with a keg positioned on said runway whereby said keg is rolled along the runway and circumierentially aligned characters are impressed on the keg, said apparatus comprising a bar positioned above and longitudinally movable relative to said runway, a standard, a guide member mounted on the standard providing a support on which said bar is slidable longitudinally and adapted to be oscillated in a Vertical plane, a plate mounted on said bar with its lower face adapted for tangential contact with said keg, a plurality of projections on the lower face of the plate, means for heating said projections, means adapted to permit movement of said bar longitudinally with the plate in tangential contact with the keg, and means adapted to permit shifting the plate relative to the bar in in a manner whereby the lower face of the plate may be inclined laterally to the horizontal between predetermined limits.

5. In a device of the kind described, a pair of spaced apart longitudinal members comprising a ruway over which a keg is adapted to be evenly and uniformly advanced by rolling, apparatus operable for movement in tangential contact with a keg positioned on said runway whereby said keg is rolled along the runway and circumferentially aligned characters are impressed on the keg, said apparatus comprising a bar positioned above and longitudinally movable relative to said runway, a standard, a guide member mounted on the standard providing a support on which said bar is slidable longitudinally and adapted to be oscillated in a vertical plane, a plate mounted on said bar with its lower face adapted for tangential contact with said keg, a plurality of projections on the lower face of the plate, means for heating said projections, means adapted to permit movement of said bar longitudinally with the plate in tangential contact with the keg, and fastening means connecting said guide member with said standard and operable to raise or lower the guide member.

ERNST F. ENGSTROM. 

